PHOTOS: Homeless residents forced out of Salinas' Chinatown

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did homeless camp sweeps along Soledad Street in Chinatown on Jan. 31, and again on July 25 this year.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Homeless men and women are forced out of their tent homes and ordered to leave during sweeps that cost tax payers thousands of dollars. They all return by the next day, and life on Chinatown's streets returns to normal.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Sweeps are conducted three times a year in Salinas' version of Skid Row because, according to city officials, homeless residents create a public health hazard.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Sweeps are conducted three times a year in Chinatown because, according to city officials, homeless residents create a public health hazard in Salinas' version of Skid Row.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

While some Central Coast residents described the drug-plagued and blighted area as "horrific," others call it home.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

While some Central Coast residents described the drug-plagued and blighted area as "horrific," others call it home.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

"When you have nothing to begin with, losing everything is really depressing. It sucks the wind out of your sails," homeless resident Danny Olf said. "It really just seems they don't care. They don't even consider us as people."

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Homeless residents said they will shift to a new neighborhood because the city has not provided a shelter. They planned on returning once the sweep was over.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

City Public Works Director Gary Petersen said he realizes people will return to Chinatown after the sweep, however, the streets must be cleaned up.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

"We know this is not a problem that goes away, but we do have responsibility to manage it to the best of our ability and public health and safety is our top goal," City Public Works Director Gary Petersen said.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown on Thursday. Here is what the area looked like Wednesday.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Petersen said everyone in the neighborhood was alerted ahead of time and any homeless person seen using a shopping cart to move their belongings will be cited.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown on Thursday. Here is what the area looked like Wednesday.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did homeless camp sweeps along Soledad Street in Chinatown on Jan. 31, and again on July 25 this year.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Homeless men and women are forced out of their tent homes and ordered to leave during sweeps that cost tax payers thousands of dollars. They all return by the next day, and life on Chinatown's streets returns to normal.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Sweeps are conducted three times a year in Salinas' version of Skid Row because, according to city officials, homeless residents create a public health hazard.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Sweeps are conducted three times a year in Chinatown because, according to city officials, homeless residents create a public health hazard in Salinas' version of Skid Row.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

While some Central Coast residents described the drug-plagued and blighted area as "horrific," others call it home.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

While some Central Coast residents described the drug-plagued and blighted area as "horrific," others call it home.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

"When you have nothing to begin with, losing everything is really depressing. It sucks the wind out of your sails," homeless resident Danny Olf said. "It really just seems they don't care. They don't even consider us as people."

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Homeless residents said they will shift to a new neighborhood because the city has not provided a shelter. They planned on returning once the sweep was over.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

City Public Works Director Gary Petersen said he realizes people will return to Chinatown after the sweep, however, the streets must be cleaned up.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

"We know this is not a problem that goes away, but we do have responsibility to manage it to the best of our ability and public health and safety is our top goal," City Public Works Director Gary Petersen said.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown on Thursday. Here is what the area looked like Wednesday.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Petersen said everyone in the neighborhood was alerted ahead of time and any homeless person seen using a shopping cart to move their belongings will be cited.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown on Thursday. Here is what the area looked like Wednesday.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

Salinas city public works crews and police officers did a sweep of Chinatown homeless encampments on Jan. 31. Here is what the neighborhood looked like the day before the sweep.

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

PHOTO: Amy Larson / KSBW

PHOTOS: Homeless residents forced out of Salinas' Chinatown

Updated: 12:00 AM PDT Jul 29, 2013

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Salinas city public works crews and police officers did homeless camp sweeps along Soledad Street in Chinatown on Jan. 31, and again on July 25 this year. Homeless men and women are forced out of their tent homes and ordered to leave during sweeps that cost tax payers thousands of dollars. They all return by the next day, and life on Chinatown's streets returns to normal. Sweeps are conducted three times a year in Chinatown because, according to city officials, homeless residents create a public health hazard in Salinas' version of Skid Row.